Road joint former and load distributor



Jan. 7, 1936. R. R. RoBER-roN 2,027,201

ROAD JOINT FRMER AND LOAD DISTRIBUTOR Filed sept. 6, 1932v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 7, 1936. R. R. ROBERTSON l2,027,201

aRoADl-JOINT FORMER AND LOAD DISTRIBUTR v Filed Sept. 6, 1932 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 1,936. R. R. ROBERTSON 2,027,201 O Y ROAD JOINT FORMER AND LOAD DISTRIBUTOR Filed Sept. 6, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

, Patented Jan.v 7, 1936 PAT-ENT OFFICE ROAD JOINT FORMER AND MAD DISTRIBUTOR Roberta.`

Chicago, lll.. assigner Robertson, Then-ambulant mm! chicago, Ill. a

corporation ct Illinois Application 'september c, im, sel-un No. mais ZGClaiml.

The'present invention relates to an improved type of-expansion or contraction joint holder and load distributor adapted to be supported transversely on a road sub-grade to serve as a convenient means for supporting or holding expansion nilers, cracking plates, removable cores or the like supported in position to permit concrete to be poured to imbed the holders and illlers and form the top or crown section of a road having v expansion joints at spaced intervals in the length of a road separated by intermediate contraction or cracking joints. 'I'he improved expansion joint former consists of shiftabie filler holders which are movably disposed in a grooved base member which serves not only as a guide member for the holders but also acts as a guard for preventing water, silt and dirt from working upwardly into the expansion joint. f

It is an object of this invention to provide an,

expansion joint holder and load distributor adapted to be imbedded transversely 4ina road or similar concrete construction to hold expansion or. contraction joint liners or cores in position and serve as a means for distributing the load across 25 the joint from one road section to another.

Itis also an object of this invention to provide an expansion joint holder comprising a grooved lguide base for movably receiving iianged holding sections in staggered relation on opposite sides of in position transversely of a road to form an expansion joint adapted to serve as a load distributing means between adjacent sections of the road.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an' improved type of expansion -joint holder and load distributor consisting of load distributing sions and having the anged portions thereof movably engaged in agrooved base member-provided with a closed bottom to prevent seepage of water and'siit around theljoint iiliers or cores to prevent widening of the expansion and contraction joints.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved type oi expansion or contraction joint holder and load distributor includan expansion joint iillercr core to hold the same Y venting upward seepage of water and silt around (ci. :i4-1s) v 4 ing shiftable sectionsengaged in staggered rela tion on opposite sides oi a niler or core, said sections provided with integral anchoring members and with baseilanges having shiftable engagement with a guide base formed with a closed bot- 5 tom which servesas a stop means for preventing ,the seepage of water and silt upwardly into the expansion or contraction joint thus obviating widening or enlargement oi the joint.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the speoincation and the accompanying drawings. Y

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustratedin the drawings and hereinafter moreifuily described. i

On the drawings: j

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan Vview of a concrete road having expansion. joints and contraction joints provided transversely at spaced intervals in the road and formed by improved joint forming means land load distributors embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged 'vertical detail section taken online II-II of Figure 1 and illustrating the expansion joint holder in position holding an expansion joint lier or core in place.

Figure-,3 is an enlarged ,vertical kdetail vsection taken on line III-III o! Figure 1 illustrating the -30 adaptation of the 4joint holder for supporting a road cracking plate in position to form a contraction joint. i'

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the. expansion joint holder with. the -iler or board omitted and illustrating the alternate or staggered positioning of the board holding sections and their engagement in the guide base.

Figure 5` is a. -side elevation of the expansion joint holder as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 vis an enlarged end elevational view of the expansion joint holder.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of one o! the expansion joint holder sections illustrating the projecting means for holding the- 45 adjacent ends of the expansion joint holder sections properiy spaced to permit transverse shifting movementrthereoi with respect to the guide Figure 8 is an end elevation of a modified form 50 of an expansion or contraction joint holder and load distributor.

, Figure 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the modified form of the device.

. Figure 10 is a vertical detail section oi a por- 55' the device including a hollow core removable to permit an expansible filling to be poured into the void.

\ Figure llois a vertical detail section of a portion of a road illustrating the modiiied form of the device used as a contraction joint to cause transverse cracking in the road, and also illustrating means for sealing both the top and bot' tom of the crack.

` As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral I indicates a concrete road sub-grade having an upper or crown con- `crete section 2 formed thereon and provided with a longitudinal center joint 3` and with transversely disposed expansion joints 4 separated by aplurality of spaced contraction joints 5.

The improved holder and load distributing device embodying the principles of this invention is adapted for use not only in holding expansion joint llers or cores in place transversely of a road but is also adaptable for use as a contraction joint and load .distributing device for holding metal cracking plates in place transverselymof a road to'cause transverse regular cracking in the upper section or crown of a road.

The improved holder comprises an elongated basel member consisting of aY solid base plate 6 constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material, said base plate having the longitudinal margins thereof deflected upwardly and then in- .wardly toward one another above` the base plate to provide oppositely positioned guide channels 'I'. The channel portions of the base member provide oppositely positioned guide grooves 8. The top flanges ofthe channel members I are spaced apart to provide a longitudinal top opening in thebase member ofthe device. The grooved or channeled base member vis provided in a desired length which maybe half of the width of the road or less it preferred. The channeled base member is adapted to be positioned transversely upon the road sub-grade I and extends from the side margin of the road to one side of the road center strip 3.

Slidably and shiftably engaged in the base member are a plurality of holder sections which are arranged longitudinally in oflset or staggered Arelation with respect to one another. The holder sections are ofidentical construction with the adjacent sections reversed with respect to one another as clearly illustrated in Figure 4. Each of the holder sections is constructed of metal and comprises a T bar consisting of a base flange 9 and a central web or holding plate I integrally formed longitudinally upo Athe top oi' the base iiange 9. The upper margin oi' the web Ing-.is

vcut to provide a plurality of spaced notches I'I andthe material from said notches is bent outwardly to .provide anchoring blades or wings I2. Thenotches II are' soy cut that the lower edges ofthe blades 'or wings I2 are inclined so that the outer ends ofthe blades are wider than the inner ends to form wedge shaped anchoring blades. In case the holder section isof a length which will not permit a' full length blade to be formed at one end of the holder section the web I0 is cut downwardly along the edge I3 and the material between said edge -I3 and the end of the web is bent downwardly at substantially right angles to form an extra lanchoring blade or wing.

tion of a road illustrating the modined form of The holder 'sections 'are smftabiy and snai-iba' mounted within the base section, with adjacent holder sections reversed withrespect to one another so that the blades or wings I2 and I4 project outwardly leaving the at side of the web I0 positioned adjacent the center of the holder providing staggered ilat supports and a holding groove or socket I for the 'reception of an expan- 'sion joint board or ller I6 which extends from the side margin of the road inwardly toward one side of the center strip 3. The expansion board or filler I6 is constructed of composition material, ber board or other suitable material and extends upwardly to position the upper edge of.

'the expansion board substantially iiush with the top surface of the road to" form the expansion joint 4. As illustrated inv Figure 1 the expansion joints 4 are positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the road and the space between the expansion joints is divided into road sections by means of the contraction joints 5 which are formed by the use' of metal cracking plates I'I (Figure 3) which are supported in position by means of the staggered holders which are moved closer together or closer .towards the center of the base strip to hold the metal cracking plates supported in position. The cracking plates I'I are so positioned that the upper` edges thereof are located a few inohes'below thetop surface of the road allowing the road to crack substantially in a straight line transversely of the road to form the cracks or grooves 5 which divide the road into sections and eliminate the uneven and promiscuous cracking of the road.

After the expansion joint holders and the contraction joint holders are in position upon a road sub-grade the concrete is poured onto the subgrade to completely imbed the holders and the expansion boards and 'cracking plates as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. With the setting of the concrete the holders are anchored or secured in position in the road sections by means of the anchoring blades or wings I2 and I4. It will be noted that the adjacent T sections are anchored in opposite sections of the road and that the 'I' sections are consequently allowed to be moved toward and away from the ,expansion strip or board I6 with the expansion and contraction of the road sections due to tcmperature changes. The base ange of each T has one half thereof projecting across the joint into an adjacent section of the road thereby affording an arrangement whereby the loads are transmittedacross the joint from one road section to an adjacent road section.

The adjacent ends of adjacent T sections are prevented from scraping and abutting one another by means of rounded detents or`studs I8 one of' which is integrally formed on each end surface of the base ange 9 of a holder section. As illustrated in Figure 4 the detents I8 of adjacent holder sections are positioned adjacent one another to hold the .endsurfaces .of the holder sections spaced apart to permit the same to be transversely moved inthe base section of the device.l When an expansion filler or board I6 is held in position by the holder sections the detents I8 are separated allowing the 'expansion board to be compressed when adjacent road sections` expand. In c ase the expansion of the road sections is so great that the expansion board I6 is compressed to such an extent that the detents I8` are moved into contact with one another the detents I8 will be sheared off when expansion and contraction joint device and load l. distributor comprising a base section of subi the webs I0 of the holder sections are moved into substantial alignment with one another.

Figures 8 to 11 illustrate a modified form of of holder sections each comprising an angle bar` consisting of 'a base flange 'I9 and an upright web or holder plate 20 integrally formed at right angles thereto. The end surfaces of the angle bars are painted with a coating or layer 2| of asphalt paint to avoid friction and permit transverse sliding movement of the holder sections with respect to one another within the base sections. The upper margin of the web or holding plate 20 is cut to provide a plurality of notches. 'I'he cut portions of the web are bent outwardly towards the outer side of the device to provide integral anchoring blades or wings 22. The blades 22 project in a direction opposite from the base ange I9. A plurality of the angle holder sections are arranged in each guide base section with the blades or wings 22 projecting outwardly leaving the inner nat surfaces of the web 20 facing inwardly with the base flanges I9 extending across the joints for transmitting loads across the joints. Thev adjacent holder sections are reversed with respect to on another and are staggered in the base section to provide a central holding groove for .the reception of a core unit or plate to hold the same in position transversely of a road.

As illustrated in Figure 10` the holder sections are arranged to support a core unit which consists f a. pair of spaced metal plates 23 which extend upwardly above the top of the concrete and are separated by means of a board or wedge 24. After the concrete is deposited on the subgrade to imbed the expansion joint forming members. the concrete is allowed to set. The

hollow core is then removed and the -void orr crevass is filled with asphalt or other suitable material to serve as the expansion joint ller.

Figure 11 illustrates an adaptation of the device wherein only the gro'oved base member anda plurality of the angle-iron holder sections are used to provide a contraction joint forming unit. In this form of the device the slot or opening vin the top of the base member is only wide enough 'to hold the angle sections with the upright webs or flanges 20 in alignment to form a cracking unit to cause formation of 'a transverse crack 25. The -concrete has imbedded therein a grooved crack forming unit 426 positioned directly above 4the contraction joint device to serve at a top sealer for the crack 26 while the base section i acts as a bottom sealer for the crack.

The improved types of expansion and contraction joint devices and load distributors are vadapted to be imbedded inv concrete with the closed bottoms of the base sections seated on theV sub-grade to serve not onlyl as'guides for the holder sections but also adapted to serve as sealers or means for preventing seepage of water and silt upwardly in the joints ofthe road or other concrete constructions in which the devices are adapted for use.

It will ofcourse be-understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is therefore not purposed to limit patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

v comprising a channeled closed bottom base section, a. plurality of holder sections shiftablyv mounted therein. and arranged in staggered relation to provide a holding groove, a illler mem- 20 ber supported in said groove with said holder sections alternately arranged to contact opposite surfaces of said ller member, and anchoring members struck from the upper margins oi said holder sections for securing the holder sections 25 locked in adjacent sections of a concrete road to permit loads to be' distributed between the road sections.

4. A joint-former `comprising a base section, a plurality of plate holders shiftably engaged 30 in said base section with the plate holders reversed with respect to one another and arranged in staggered relation .to provide a plate receiving groove therebetween, spacing means on the ends of the plate holders to obviate friction there- 35 between, and a plurality of retaining means integrally formed on the plate holders and projecting outwardly therefrom to facilitate anchoring of the plate holders in adjacent sections of a concrete road in which the joint former is imbedded.

5. A concrete joint forming device comprising a base section, a pluralityof hanged holder sections shiftably mounted in said base section with alternate holder sections reversed with respect to one another and staggered to provide a plate holding groove therebetween, and a plurality of `blade members struck outwardly from the holder sections for anchoring the holder sections in adjacent sections of a concrete road whereby the plate holding groove is adapted to be narrowed and widened with the expansion and contraction v of the concrete road sections due to temperature changes.

6. A joint former comprising a grooved base section, a plurality of holders shiftable engaged in said base section with adjacent holders reversed with respect to one another and positioned in staggered relation to provide a receiving groove therebetween, a joint illler seated in said groove with adjacent holders contacting opposite i sides of the joint illler, means on the ends of said holders to hold adjacent ends ofthe holders spaced with respect to one another, said holders having portions thereof notched with the material resulting from the formation of the notches deilected outwardly to provide a plurality of anchoring means permitting the holders tobe anchored in adjacentv sections of a concrete road to permit the holders to be shifted transversely F0 of the base section to compress the filler when the adjacent road sections are expanded due to temperature changes. Y

'7. 'Ihe combination with an expansionV joint filler, of supporting members therefor arranged 75 constructed -to adjustably receive thesupporting members to permit the same to be moved toward and away fromA the iiiler, said base section having a closed bottom serving as a sealing means to obviate seepage of water and silt upwardly in a road expansion joint formed by the ller.

8. In a road joint former the combination with a filler, of a grooved base member having a closed bottom, and a plurality of holders shiftably mounted in said base member and alternately engaged on opposite sides of the iiller to support -the same in position.

9. In a road joint former the combination with a iiller, of a passaged base member adapted to be supported on a road sub-grade. a plurality of' iiller holders shiftably engaged in staggered relation in the base member on opposite sides of the iller, and blade members integrally struck outwardly from the outer sides of said nller holders for anchoring the same in adjacent sections of a concrete road to permit the nller holders to be moved toward `or away from the ller withthe expansion and contraction of the road sections due to temperature changes. Y

10. A joint forming device comprising a sealing base, and a pluralitysof means -mounted therein with adjacent means reversed with respect to one another and adapted to be moved in opposite directions into and out of alignment with one another. I

11. A joint forming kdevice comprising a sealing base, a plurality of alternately reversed means mounted therein, and anchoring blades struck therefrom for securing adjacent means in opposite concrete sections oi a construction in which the device is imbedded.

12; A joint forming device for use in a concrete construction, said device comprising a sealing.

means, and angle irons alternately reversed with respect to one another and having the supporting anges thereof slidably engaged in said sealing means and having the remaining anges projecting upwardly out of the sealing means, and blades struck from said-lastmentioned flanges to cause transmission of loads between adjacent concrete sections of the construction.

13. A joint forming' device for use in a concrete construction, said device comprising a grooved sealing means, means' reversed with respect to one another and engaged therein and including members struck therefrom for anchoring adjacent means in opposite concrete sections of the construction, said means having the base portions thereof alternately staggered and projecting from one concrete section into another to transmit loads betweensaid sections.

14. A load transmission joint comprising a core, a grooved hollow base, and a plurality of angle members transversely shiftable in said base, said angle members positioned in alternating relation on opposite sides of the core and projecting therebeneath into opposite sides of the base.

'15. A load transmission joint comprising a base,

,a plurality of adjacently positioned reversed supporting means transversely shiftable in said base,

and a groove forming cole unit supported between said supporting means.

16. A joint forming device comprising a core section, a closure`means thereon. and anchor in staggered relation to contact opposite sides of .the expansion joint 1111er, andv a base section means positioned side by side in reversed stag- `gered relation on opposite sides of the core .sec-

tionad projecting transversely thereof to hold thesamein position.

17. A" joint forming device comprising a core section, and anchor means positioned' side by side in reversed staggered relation beneath ,the same with adjacent anchor means anchored in opposite sections of a concrete construction andin contact with opposite sides of the core section. 1o

18. I n a transmission joint of the class described including an anchoring unit comprising a v base means, an angled member slidably engaged therein, and anchoring means on said angled 19. A road joint-former and load distributor comprising in combination a support including a plurality `of reversed staggered supporting means arranged in spaced Aparallel relation, and a void for' ring core unit removably supported thereby. 20

20.v A road joint former and load distributor comprising a core unit, and a plurality of anchor means arranged in reversed staggered relation and transversely slidable with respect to the core unit.' each vof said anchor meanscomprising a 25 T bar having anchoring members. projecting from one side of one of the iianges thereof'.

2i. A joint forming device comprising a core section, a closure means thereon, and spaced parallel anchor means arranged in reversed staggered relation with respect to one another and movable transversely of thecore section.

22. A road joint former and load distributor comprising in combination a chambered base having a plurality of reversed staggered supporting means projecting therefrom, and a joint forming means removably supported between said means.

23. A road joint former and load distributor comprising in combination a base including a plurality of separated supporting means arranged to permit adjacent supporting means to move independently of each other and in opposite directions with respect to one another, and a void forming means supported between the supporting means. 24. A road joint former and load distributor including in combination a support having a load transmitting means movably interiitting one side of the same and projecting upwardly out of and over the opposite side of said support for transmitting a load from one road section to an adjacent road section.

25. A road joint former and load distributor including in combination a support having va load transmitting means interiitting the same and transversely shiftable therein, and anchor means on said load transmitting means projecting out of said support for anchoring the load transmitting means in one road section for transmitting a load therefrom to an adjacent road section with which mitting a load from one road section to an adjament.

26. Aroad joint former including Yin combination a base means vhaving a plurality of load transmitting means movably engaged therein in paralle l relation with adjacent load transmitting means movable in opposite directions with the expansion and contraction of road sections due to temperature changes.

ROBERT R. ROBERTSON'. 'ml

CERTIFICATE VOE CORRECTION. Y 4 5 Patent No; 2,027,201. January 7, 1956.

- i ROBERT R. ROBERTSON.

It is' hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows: .Page 3, first column, line 32, for "on" read one; page 4, secc-nd column, line f6l-62,` claim` '25, for the syllable and words "mitting a. load from one road section to an adj ament" read the load transmittinT means has slidable engagement; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.V

Signed and sealed lthis 3rd day March, A. 1935.

.p 1 Y Leslie-Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

